Process of making rubber and leather substitute.



' 1,174,?341. Ho Drawing. Application filed liar-ch 7, 1918, Serial No. 752,757. Renewed August 12, 1915,;Seria1 No.

which shall be of a good quality, strong,-

.equal'to about 12 to 25% of the weight particularly those used in treating leather,

narcissism mmmn, or enamele -new JERSEY.

PROCESS OF MAKING RUBIBETt AND SUBSTITUTE.

Specification of Letters Patent; Pat nt d M '7, 1916.

To all whom/it mayconoem: tannin, an extract (aqueous) of sumac, in Be it known that I, BENJAMIN KEPNER, equivalent amount,.should be substituted for a citizen of the United'States,'residing at the pure tannin. European tannin that Cranford, in the county of Union and State 4 's generally used in the manufacture of of New Jersey, have invented new and usewhite leather, should be employed, instead ful Improvements inv Processes of -Making 'of a-"tannin that produces a dark color. The Rubber and Leather Substitute, of which solution is then thoroughly mixed, while the following isa specification. hot, and allowed to stand and cool for 24 The object of the present invention is the hours or longer, during which' time the production of a substance which can be used llquid will resolve itself into' a gelatinous as a substitute for rubber and leather, and mass. This maybe again heated in the water bath, to cause it to liquefy after which it may be used for coating or lmpregnating fabrics, or for thier on.

. As a modified mode of procedure,.suitable for the preparation of this solution, the

tenacious, and of any desired degree of hardness.

If desired, a product as -soft and flexible as kid may be produced, or if desired, a product as hard and stifi as horn can be produced, by various modifications herein gelatm solutlon is precipitated with tannin. stated, or any desired gradations between After the precipitation 1s complete, the wathe soft and pliable product, and the hard ter 1s poured off, and the precipitate, reand horn-like product may be made. maining in a tough elastic mass is now,

For making my product, I preferably r wh1le st1ll wet, dissolved in hot glycerin in ceed as follows: Gelatin, in any of its forms, a Water h 01ling).- A tic id and Oil such as sheet gelatin, isinglass, glue, animal, are added, and then thoroughly mixed while vegetable or marine gelatin, etc., is first hot. The mixture allowed to cool and treated with cold. water, for a suflicient season for 24 hours or more, when it, i length of time to cause the gelatin to soften, by absorption of water, (or in other words WISeto swell), until it has absorbed sufficient Y The solutlon, prepared by either of the water for the purpose intended. (Gelatin a ve methods, may be poured while hot, will, under these conditions, absorb up to 1I 1 molds, or on plates, toform articles, thirteen times its own weight of wat r.) elther with or without any fillers, e. g. cot- The excess of cold water is then poured 0E, ton waste, wool and leather waste, pulp, and the softened gelatin is then heated in a sawdust, etc., such articles being then cut into water bath, nearly to boiling until the gelaappr prlate SIZeS, Shapes, etc. for further tin completely dissolves, and forms a soluuse 1n the arts, if desired. tion of a syrupy consistency. To this solution while hot is added glycerin, purity and substantially of common tion into useful articles, is to impregnate free from water. fabrics, to make various articles; If the of fabric is in the form of a woven or knitted the dry gelatin employed, and more if a soft tube, I can by this method make such artirubber-leather is being made, and the mixcles as tubes, fire or garden hose, automobile ture thoroughly stirred. There is also added tires or casings therefor, etc., which in addiapproximately the same amount (12 to 25%) tion to being impregnated with the liquid of oil, (such oils as French degras or linand dried, may have any desired number seed being preferred, although other oils, of coatings of the liquid rubber-leather on both the inside and outside thereof. may be employed.) The mixture is agaim- The material constituting my invention thoroughly stirred. To the solution is then can be produced in various'colors, by applyadded 6 to 12% of pure tannin (more or ing any suitable coloring material in liquid less as with the glycerin and oil), to gelaform, to the dried fabric that has been imtins that will not be preci itated thereby, pregnated or coated withit, after which it uch as vegetable gelatins. 1 f thegelatin is is again dried, or coloring material may be of a character to be precipitated by pure mixed with the rubber-leather while in 9,

Another method of working up this solumolding, as described fur-- ready for application to fabrics or. other,-

liquid state, and a plied'to the fabric or surface. The material is then again dried nearly every desire color may also be proas above stated.

duced, by applying the liquid rubber-leather The proportions of glycerin, oil, tannin,

to fabric or other material that has been etc., may be varied more or less, as above previously dyed. Light or white color may stated. Increasing the amount of oil and also be produced, in the same manner, exof glycerin, and decreasing the amount of cept that in that case, I make the rubbertannin makes the product softer, and vice leather as transparent or translucentas posversa.

sible so that the colors will show through it. Two properties of special interest, in ad- A method of making an especially strong dition to those above noted, are that the and tough leather substitute, useful for a material is a good insulator for electricity,- variety of purposes, e.g. as shoe soles, and and does not become brittle with age, as uppers, is as follows: Two pieces of cloth does rubber, nor is it rotted by oil asis rubare soaked in the solution, united by pressber, thus adapting it especially in connecing, so that the warp of one piece is laid tion with greasy machinery, such as buffers, across the warp 'f the other piece, and after packings, etc. drying other layers of fabric may be simi- This substance can be used for impregnatlarly applied, or surface coatings of the ing fabrics to' produce articles other than liquid may be applied, until the desired those above indicated, which may be used thickness is obtained. This process may in various arts where substantially waterso also be applied to a single piece of cloth, proof fabrics are needed. By suitably prefor thin leathers. paring these articles, they can be made of Twine, cordage, ropes, cables, etc., can be any desired thickness, flexibility, strength, saturated and coated with the rubbertoughness, resiliency and impermeability. leather, adding strength, durability and While I have specified gelatin, as being water-proof properties to them, making 1t used in making the composition, it is to be specially desirable when they are used in understood that this term is intended to water, and cold climates, as they will not include, not only what is known in the absorb water, and freeze, if so treated. market as gelatin but any known sub- The drying of the various articles should stance which has similar properties, as well preferably be carried out, by loosely piling as any of the known equivalents therefor, or hanging the articles in an open room, in such as glue, isinglass, vegetable jelly, agarthe presence of sunlight, at a temperature agar, and others. not above 120F., and when'so dried is not This material is obviously much cheaper in any manner injured. .Heating to higher and in many ways superior to rubber or temperatures will injure the material, and leather, and is destined to come into very reduce its strength. The presence of sunextended use in the arts. light is necessary to cause the desired re- What I claim is actions to take place during the drying 1. A process of increasing the softness operation. Also when an ordinary glossy. and flexibility of gelatin derivatives, which finish is desired (similar to patent leather) comprises treating the same with water, and add any suitable gloss-giving material to while in a moist condition applying oil to the rubber-leather solution. The gloss can the surface thereof. also be applied to the-finished fabric and- 2.A process of producing a rubber dried. It may also be observed that the leather substitute, which comprises treating gloss, when made oart of the rubber-leather a fabric with a solution comprising glyarticles, can easily be cleaned and brightcerin, gelatin, an oil, and tannin and thereened up by simply rubbing them with a after drying said treated fabric in the greasy cloth, and then with a dry cloth. presence of sunlight at a temperature not After the surface of the rubber-leather has over F., and thereafter increasing the 1 been cleansed, this rubber-leather acts and softness and flexibility of said product, by looks like patent leather. treating the same with water, and while in The hardness of the product may be ina moist condition applying oil to the sur creased, if desired, by further treatment face thereof. with tannin solution, and again drying in In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 11 the manner above set forth. If the material in presence of two witnesses.

is too hard for a particular use, it may be BENJAMIN KEPNER. made softer by soaking in water, preferably Witnesses:

warm water, after which oils, or glycerin SALLIE H. BURNLEY,

such as above specified, are rubbed into the CHAS. W. BURNLEY. 

